The Naked Mountain: Nanga Parbat – Brother, Death and Solitude

Messner speaks out on the fateful climb of his first 8000m peak! In 1970 Reinhold, along with his brother Gunther, was a member of Karl Herrligkoffer’s large Rupal Face expedition to Nanga Parbat. Although successful in reaching the summit, the expedition was marred by the death of Gunther during his descent. Messner’s original book ‘Die Rote Rakete am Nanga Parbat’ was removed from circulation following court proceedings initiated by Herrligkoffer. The publication of this book caused an immediate, and very public, controversy resulting in two other expedition members to write their own accounts and thus rebut Messner’s version. A most interesting read. Profusely illustrated. See also Kienlin’s ‘Die Überschreitung’ and Saler’s ‘Zwischen Licht und Schatten’.